Once the harvest season is in full swing, gardeners need good cookbooks with suitable recipes and ideas. Here are some delightful titles that will help you put that harvest to good use.

“Not Your Mother’s Weeknight Cooking-Quick and Easy Wholesome Homemade Dinners” by award winning author Beth Hensperger was released by the Harvard Common Press. This is part of the Not Your Mother’s series. One look at the cover and you know you’re in for a treat. The author offers all sorts of great tasting dishes that are simple to prepare.

Gardeners will especially like the chapter on main dish salads made from fresh produce. Many of the other recipes also feature fresh produce as well. This also has chapters on eggs and soups. There are creative ideas for sandwiches as well. For each recipe, this gives the cooking and prep time, a list of ingredients and easy to follow directions.

“Around the Table-Easy Menus for Cozy Entertaining at Home” by Ellen Wright was released by Harvard Common Press. Featuring photos by Tom Eckerle, this innovative title features 24 simple and easy seasonal menus. A comprehensive how-to entertaining guide, it offers much more than recipes.

There are do-ahead tips and quick shortcuts that limit prep time along with ideas on setting the table. This has separate sections for warm and cool season menus. These include garden parties and outdoor events that help you make full use of your garden during the warm months.

The simple to prepare recipes have a list of ingredients and easy to follow instructions. Many of the recipes feature fresh produce. It covers every type of event from the Super Bowl to brunch.

“Down Home with the Neelys-a Southern Family Cookbook” by Patrick and Gina Neely et al was released by Knopf. With 75 lush color photos, this offers sensational, easy to prepare recipes from the Neelys, who host a popular television show on the Food Network and operate restaurants in Memphis and Nashville.

They also share their personal stories and their love of cooking. Each type of dish or meal receives its own chapter. There are also chapters on breakfast and drinks. One chapter is devoted to salads and salad dressings with wonderful ideas for garden produce. Sandwiches are also given their own chapter. Considerable attention is given to barbecue since this is a specialty for the Neely’s. Barbecue is also a family tradition for Patrick’s family as well.